Titi speaks about learning Yoruba
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 7 ก.พ. 2025
- Learning Yoruba is not easy. The tones make it especially difficult to hear and speak. Titilayo, a American currently living in Ibadan and studying Yoruba, speaks about the challenges of learning Yoruba and the rewards. To see more about Titi, visit northoflagos.wo...
Being Nigerian and being born in the UK I'm 13 and learning how to speak Yoruba. It's hard. But your so inspiring!
How did it go??
wow this is great! keep up the good work cara!
@kmj ita it's sad how we are loosing our language due to the parents
not teaching the kids, they want to be so westernized that the kids
don't know the language, every african country teaches their kids their own language we nigerians are messing up by not doing this.
I'm ashamed of myself. I grew up in Nigeria with 2 full-blown Yoruba parents and cannot speak a word of Yoruba...but I can understand what you are saying without the subtitles...so proud of you and you are inspiring :). You are getting better with each video. Well done!
From my mother " May God Bless you, give you more wisdom knowledge and understanding to know more about my language, my beautiful concentrated and valued language, EDE YORUBA! You are a blessing to us NIgerians! Ori mi wu pupo, inu mi dun lopolopo. O d' gba.
Wow girl how did you learn to speak Yoruba so fluent. I'm Zulu, trying to learn Yoruba and it's hard specially whèn the internet is your teacher!
This is great, Inu mi dun lati gbo ede ilu mi lenu re and couple with fact that I am from Ibadan, and this is a challenge for every nigerian to learn a proper yoruba instead of slang being taught by musician nowadays. Titi, if I happen to your supervisor you already got A+.
I am deeply touched by the work your doing in Nigeria. I just saw your other vid on the importance of wearing shoes, and trust me, I haven't felt so much delight from seeing something in ages. What your doing is incredible. To go and settle in another country, thousand of miles away, where the lifestyle and culture is so different takes immense courage. I don't have the balls to do what you did, and am a dude.....
WHAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i am like AMAZED. I am yoruba and mehn, i give you PROPS!!!! this is beyond amazing. I appreciate you taking the time to learn Yoruba, it's a very deep and beautiful language!!
i just love your dedication to learning the language, coming from the igbo speaking side of nigeria I found it necessary to learn the languages of my neighbors,it took me five years to learn yoruba,hausa and ishan,but I thank God that I learned them.I think by learning people's languages we get to understand them better as a person, and ignorance becomes limited. I especially love the way you encourage your sister, its very commendable. I hope most of us nigerian can learn 2 spk eachothers lang.
wow..this is mind blowing! it is not just about the fact that you can speak Yoruba fluently titi but i am awed by your mindset and how much you have created fun as you study and live in Ibadan. I mean a lot of us won't even dream of going to the places you have been or see beauty in d places u have been to ( e.g the Old Oyo National Park)....you obviously have a passion and a vision in this culture depth exploration you are into and tonight i have learnt a lot from you! there is more in store!!
I'm quite embarrassed that you speak better Yoruba than me :(
what of the intonation?
I fully understand with you, Titi. Foreign learners of of most languages do so by the formal route, textbooks; language on the other hand is socially driven by its colloquial forms. It takes real courage to have gone as far as you have! A decade ago you might have found Nigerian professors at UI who spoke Yoruba the way you do, because they were from other parts of the country. I hope you will hang on to what you have, Yoruba is a wealthy language and a whole world of fresh ideas is its reward.
May God bless you, Strengthen you and Empower you to do more. I live in the United States, and I cannot imagine seeing you here speaking the language. I will definitely buy you a drink as a sign of appreciation. I am Igbo, but I speak and understand Yoruba fluently just like you!
really good titi, am sure a lot of people will be encouraged by your story. very brilliant
Titi, just wanted to say well done and keep it up. In dedicating yourself to knowing about your fellow humans, you represent the best in young people everywhere.
Very good! I really enjoyed the video so good to see someone who strife to learn Ede Yoruba like me. I am striving to learn this beautiful language. Congratulations!
Wow wow wow! i'm amazed, you amaze me, i'm igbo and don't know an inch of yoruba, my parents speak it but i don't, and you've just showed me that anything is possible! good job, keep it up!
learn a language from a part of Nigeria that we/our parents are not from so I learnt Igbo instead while living still in Ibadan. They later realised it was a mistake but the damage had already been done. I got my Paternal Uncle to teach me how to put signs but I don't even know my alphabets in Yoruba till now. I am saying this to give you a glimpse of why so many of us are either reluctant to read/write/speak the language or simply can't. It was unfashionable. I love you Titilayo Harshman
You are a pride of knowledge. You can hardly come across any Yorubas in his 40s who can speak yoruba without flaws
I'm glad u noticed that Yoruba is not spoken in the undiluted form u expected. Over the yrs, Yoruba has been influenced greatly by English- hence it is rare to hear anyone speak it without utilising some English words to express themselves. It is only some of the older generation with little knowledge of English, who may speak Yoruba in its pure form. So congratulations on your efforts at learning this rich African language- your family must be proud of you! Well done!!
Thanks for showing the world how beautiful Yoruba Language is..God bless you!
Thanks Titi,u make my day each time i view u on youtube.am proud to say am from the yoruba race.
Wow! very impressive. I'm a yoruba who does not speak the language as well as you do. My children are definitely following in the pattern. This is definitely a booster for me. If you can learn it, and speak it this well, then I have hopes for me and my children. Okare jare!
This is sooo cool! I'm Yoruba and you know how to speak better Yoruba than some of my friend that were born in Nigeria. Awesome job
Great job! This is very impressive and very challenging as well. I am from Nigeria but our children are born here and if they can comprehend 25% of the yoruba mastery that you've demonstrated, I'd be a happy baba. O ku ise gidigidi. Inu mi dun lati ri itesiwaju re.
Wow!!!! You're understanding of this language is amazing. And this is coming from an African American who has always wanted to learn an African language. This is very inspiring. How many hours a day did you practice Yoruba when you first started? Three years to get to that level in ANY language is most definitely an accomplishment.
I am jealous but I am very much determined to learn Yoruba as well. I pray that I will be as fluent as you one day soon. You have inspired me.
Aniesha Parks are you still looking to learn Yoruba?
Titi you're so wonderful and you speak Yoruba excellently! wow...you're amazing!
God bless Nigeria. This is outstanding, well done Titi.
Ku ise o! Very proud of you! I went to medical school at UW Madison, Wish we could have been friends..you could have taught me a thing or two I bet. Keep doing you girl and enjoy your experience!
This is great work.
I am SO PROUD YOU!!!!. Keep up the good job. There are some words in Yoruba that I do not know. I just learnt what window is called ..lol..I understand Yoruba, but I do not speak it not because of I am ashamed of it,, I love languages and all but I just cannot bring myself to speak any other language that is not English. I am taking french in school but I do not speak it. Watching you gives me courage to make effort to speak my Language and also learn to speak others. Thanks!!
I am very impressed by your video, I am Yoruba & lived in Nigeria (PortHarcourt) for over 20 years. I just want to say kudos to you and keep it up. For someone with English as a first language your Yoruba is pretty fluent (never mind the accent). Plus you use certain words which were completely alien to me - awesome!
Were it not for the subtitles I'd struggle to figure what you said in Yoruba - that's how bad I am. You've really inspired me to learn to speak & understand the Yoruba language :o)
Well done, girl!! You have shown keen interest and done excellently. Most native speakers don't even know half as much. Bravo!
You start sounding chinco towards the end - from when talking about the elders. I love it, keep you the good work. God bless
I'm sooo jealous! I want to be able to do this, but basically with either Ga or Twi from Ghana. I'm just happy to see other non-African people wanting to learn African languages and cultures =]
I'm actually fully Nigerian and in the process of learning Yoruba. I can mimic the accent and speak it a but but I want to learn it so I can speak the language to my children. My parents only speak English to me and my siblings.
Where you reside
This is so cool, i speak Yoruba and i can understand her fluently. This so awesome to hear. Wow super cool! She even speaks a little pidgin!!!!!!!!!!! this video makes me proud 2 b Nigerian! U R Awesome.
Well done, girl!! You have shown keen interest adn done excellently. Most native speakers don't even know half as much. Bravo!
well done,am very proud, i was a yoruba teacher before leaving naija and no how yoruba youths do not want to be associated with our precious languageand culture. Can we see what we do not cherish is promoted elsewhere, i wish all my students could see this and also naija govt cos they a lot to do
Well done. Theres some work that needs to be done. But i'm impressed. You speak better than most yourba people of today.
WOW I never believed a foreigner could get this far with the tonal pronunciation. Good job
Titi is doing a great job. We appreciate you. Viewers may also watch videos from Yoruba Ambassador. It's fun learning while watching others learn. You even get challenged when you get to watch non-Nigerians speak Yoruba for the first time. Yoruba is rich in culture and language. E je ka gbe ede ati asa wa laruge (Let us appreciate/flaunt our culture and language). Thanks
Wow u put me to shame and I was out there for 5 years. I am so fascinated with your videos and how well you interact with the people of yoruba land. Watching ur videos made feel like I was in Nigeria again. Thanks for sharing and keep up the good work.
You are awesome! I want to learn Yoruba so bad but it's hard here in the states. But my husband is Yoruba so he will help me. I want to learn the rich proper Yoruba that you speak;)
Well done, girl! You have done excellently well, showed keen interest and you getting it. Some native speakers don't even know half as much. Bravo!!!
You did great,boo...i love the way you speak my language.God bless you.
PROUD OF YOUR DEDICATION AND AS A NIGERIAN BRAVO''
this is really great! keep up the work Titi! what are you doing now that you are in the US? Whenever you get the chance, come back to your 2nd home-Naija. I live in Abuja. my mum is white, and dad is igbo..and my mom (after living all her life in naija) still cant speak as fluently as you can..so i give u big props! continue it ohhhhh yes ohh
I also just started to learn from zero..... I hope one day i will speak it as beautiful as you
I'm in love with her and i dont even know her, great job on the yoruba, really amazing
So good It makes me feel like learning the language evenmore .Congratulations
Titi, oti se ise to ga gan ni! mo ki e lopolopo. Mo mo pe oti maa nira fun e lati de ibi to o de bayi ninu iko ede Yoruba. Mo lero pe wa tunbo maa ko ede yi siwaju sii paapa julo lati lo si iwaju ninu bi eniyan se npe awon oro pelu amin.
Titi, you have done a great job! I applaud you greatly. I know that it must have been very difficult for you to get to where you are in learning the Yoruba language, I hope that you will continue to learn the language expecially the tonation with the signs.
Titi, I'm amazed how great and fluent your Yoruba is! Very good. :) I also want to say that your videos are very helpful and encouraging to me. E se, sister! Keep on posting nice videos.
Very nice, you are a fast learner. Great job speaking Yoruba within 3 years.
Am really proud of you girl, this is so so awesome
please keep the good Job up.
wow the girl is amazing it s an inspiration....
Great Job Titi! looking forward to more vids from u!
Very impressive. I am igbo and seeing someone from a foreign country speaking a Nigerian language that well.
Amulumala indeed, and I have forwarded your message to children born in diaspora that thinks Yoruba is not for them. I speak yoruba to my children and everytime we are outside and wants to say something we speak yoruba.
YOU ARE AWESOME!
Lovely..you will go far...
Hope you enjoying my lovely Country?
God Bless Nigeria
this actually brought a tear to my eye, simply because we Yorubas have neglected our own language, young people don't want to speak Yoruba anymore, they feel its an inferior language, we need to insist that our children learn our indigenous language coupled with English
Fantastic! Your Yoruba is so deep and authentic. The only thing you need to work on is the accent but it's not absolutely necessary. Well done! If we should both take an exam in Yoruba, you would ace me totally!
I enjoyed your video.Great job!
wow just amazing im a 11 year old nigerian and my mom can speak yoruba very fluent and so can all of all the aduldts in my family i mean parens grand parents grand uncles grand aunts and aunts and uncles but most of the children im my family tree cant speak much except for my sisters and me but i dont kno all of it i understand more than i speak. oh my dad was born in nigeria but raised in ghana and he can speak like four different languages
.
Fantastic!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I am Yoruba born and bred and you put me to shame!!!
Can't even speak like you are doing!!!! I have NEVER said ferese in my life before (didnt even know that was what window was called in yoruba!!!
You are amazing taking the time to learn our language and like you said, we should do more to preserve it!!!
Well done gurl!!!!!
she is so liveee! shes so good!
@tealvsturquoise Living among people speaking everyday helps the most. You start to have an innate awareness the tone.
Your accent has improved loads! well done and keep it up xxxx
Dat was a brilliant show Segun.
Titi, awesome job. You just woke up a debate that Yoruba speaking people need to stare up a positive movement towards keeping their language. The really sad part of this whole thing is the end when the little girl said "never"
You spoke so well!
Omg, you're amazing! (you sound like one of my relatives) I'm of Nigerian descent and have lived in London all my life and cannot speak a word of Yoruba. I hope I can learn it though and become as good as you one day :)
I can teach you.
I'm completely speechless. I'm so impressed
OMGGGG IM YORUBA & I LIVE IN THE USS YOUR YORUBA ISSS SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO MUCH BETTER THAN MINE!! Great jobbb
That is so awesome! I was expecting English. You sound like it comes so easy to you! GREAT JOB GIRL! :)
I think I can safely speak for every Yoruba person who doesn't speak Yoruba and say that this video is an inspiration to every single Yoruba person who doesn't speak Yoruba.
@harshie111 You have nothing to be embarrassed about Titi. You really rock! I suggest you use your Yoruba name in full. Titilayo or Titilola? They all have beautiful meanings. Keep it up!!!
You are amazing. I admire your work. AWESOME JOB!
Absolutely awesome, dats d halmark of determination. Ijinle pampam
amazing! Your video has inspired me to learn idoma, my fiance's language.
Just saw this and wow, for a white girl, your Yoruba is ridiculously good. In fact it's better than a lot of Nigerian youths'. I've been trying to go back to Naija and spend some time getting my Yoruba back to standard but I'm also realizing that more ppl my age would rather speak pidgin so I'm wondering which to focus on while I'm there. Keep up the good work tho.
Girl you are amazing! Keep up the great work.
Wow! She got me thrilled...and really thrilled to bits! I found it a bit difficult to control my excitement. V. good harshie111. O se gaan ni. A gbadun e pupo. " O ti po ju" ..that's a colloquial expression for you there..guess the meaning. Titi di igba ti maa tun kan si e, ni asiko to dara.
About time Africans realise the value of our's!!!! Hope this throws the challenge to us to learn how to preserve our culture which is so deeply embedded in our languages.
How can we hold our own if our deepest secrets are expressed in another nation's language?
Long live the Afrobeat king FELA. peace
This is very encouraging!
yourrrrrrrrrrrrr amazing and should be soooo proud of yourself, you've actually put me to shame because im nigerian and cant even speak it properly....youve got the tones down really well !!!
Well Done a lot girl, you put a lot of Nigerians to shame. Carry on with what you do,and you show a lot of people how beautiful Yoruba is.
@suwnshyne
I too am Nigerian, & I too am trying to learn my native language as best as possible. Well done to her.
I Salute your effort big time, there are loads of Yoruba people who are not even proud to be Yoruba's once they enter the West tring to be Americans or English. I feel sad when i see this, But i pro-actively try 2 teach my little one Yoruba in fact English is banned @ home just Spanish & Yoruba at home, becos despite being English am very proud of my ethnic background, moreso considering the language existed from D 11th century probably b4. So should be kept alive in true form. So Congrats 2 U
@Aimfromsky Thank you for your comment it is very encouraging that people like yourselves appreciate what it took for a foreigner like Tit to learn deep Yoruba language.
Titi, you really tried. I was also a student of UI at the time you made this video. Hope you are still keeping in touch with the language and the culture
beautiful and amazing ...dam ....mo ti bo joh
Wow! You're right about the younger generation losing there culture. Myself included. You had me dying when you pronounced University and in the same breathe switched back to Yoruba.
wow that's nice I'm freaking here thanks for spoking Nigeria dialect called Yoruba, I'm from Ika Delta State Smile's beautiful Angel.
@dittdott yes u r so right ...this video is amazing
this is very interesting and intriguing,,,, well done girl! You too much
You sound amazing and I'm so inspired. My boyfriend is Nigerian, Yoruba, and will be coming to the U.S. to study. He can't wait to teach me yoruba. As an American do you have any tips for making it easier or me to learn? Thank you.
YOU ARE SO AWESOME.